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Chapter 3: Rick

Rick looked down at his watch, then promptly shoved his hand in his pocket and furrowed his brow. It was getting late and the sun would be going down soon. He thought Daryl and Carol would've been back by now, with or without Beth. He hoped they'd find her alive, but he just couldn't be sure the petite blonde he'd known at the prison could have survived on her own. Who knows what kind of people had taken her? If she wasn't dead, she most likely was wishing she were. He shook his head, as if to rattle the dark thoughts away. He wanted to see Beth back as much as anyone else. He missed the warmth she brought to the group, and Judith needed a mother figure in her life. Sure, the others helped look after the youngest Grimes, but no one was as natural as Beth at it.

Carl came up behind him and interrupted his train of thought. "You really think she's still alive?"

Judith wriggled in Carl's arms and reached out for her daddy. Rick happily obliged and lifted her out of her brother's arms, frowning slightly at Carl. This world had made his son a pessimist. "Daryl seemed to think so. I trust his judgement."

Carl humphed and kicked a rock with his boot. "I don't know, seems like a waste of time to me."

Rick looked down at his son, though not as far down as he used to have to look. Carl seemed to be getting taller by the day. "I thought you liked Beth?"

"I do, but Dad, she's like ninety pounds soaking wet. Even if she managed to escape from whoever took her, she'd probably be walker food by now."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. She was out there alone with Daryl for a long time. I think he taught her a thing or two about surviving." Rick had noticed a definite change in the man he now thought of as his brother. He only hoped Daryl had the same effect on Beth.

Rick heard Carl sigh and mumble what sounded like "whatever" as he stalked away. He looked at his daughter, who was happily playing with one of the buttons on his shirt. "I bet you think Beth is alive, right?" He gave Judith a kiss on the head and turned just in time to see Maggie take off running down the road. The look of elation he saw on her face gave Rick the first smile he'd had in a while.

"So they're all alive – Rick, Carl, Judith, Michonne – everyone?"

Maggie nodded emphatically.

"Tyreese, Sasha, Bob?"

Maggie kept excitedly nodding her head as they approached the rest of the group. Beth's face beamed, emphasizing the fact that she hadn't heard such good news in quite awhile. "And a few new people as well," Maggie added.

"And we're heading to Washington, D.C. in the morning to... cure this thing?!" The younger Greene sounded incredulous.

"That's what Eugene says, anyway." Glenn added. "Some of us remain skeptical, but they did help me find Maggie again, so I said I'd help any way I could."

After all the terror she'd experienced over the past several weeks, Beth felt a surge of joy rush through her. Daryl had come to rescue her, Glenn and Maggie were alive, and now she was going to be reunited with the rest of the group. During her time at the hospital, her ever present optimism had started to wane. She'd become tougher, more practical, but getting to hold her sister again had made her start to feel a little more like her old self.

They crossed a ditch to get to the clearing where the camp was set up. Most of the people were packing up, making preparations for their journey in the morning. Everyone except the Grimes family. Beth picked up speed when she saw Rick coming towards her, a happy Judith in his arms and Carl a few steps behind. The former sheriff looked rougher than Beth remembered, more gray in his beard and lines on his face, but he was genuinely happy to see her. He extended his free arm and enveloped her in a hug.

"You are a sight for sore eyes."

Beth smiled at Rick. "It's good to be back." She kissed him lightly on the cheek. Funny how it was easier and less awkward than her attempt with Daryl the day before. "And you!" she exclaimed, taking Judith from her daddy's arms, "I missed you something fierce." She kissed her on one rosy cheek and Judith giggled happily.

Carl came forward and gave Beth a side hug. He tousled Judith's hair and said somewhat sheepishly, "I'm glad you're alive."

"The feeling's mutual," she winked at the growing young man and he seemed to lighten up a little. "I can't believe how tall you've gotten!"

Carl shrugged as Daryl strode by, slapping him on the back. "Gonna be taller than his daddy soon." He managed another half smile before he and Carol went to join the others in their preparations. Beth watched the angel wings on his vest as he walked away, feeling something she surmised must be gratitude for the hunter. Gratitude and a pang of something else. She shifted Judith more comfortably on her hip and turned back to Rick, Carl, Maggie and Glenn. "You guys got anything to eat? I'm starving."

Hugs and a few tears were exchanged with the rest of the group. Even Michonne, who Beth hadn't seen ever showing much affection, offered her a warm embrace. Everyone looked genuinely pleased to see her alive and well. No one pressed her for details on where she'd been, and for that, Beth was grateful. Sasha offered her a plate of food and she gladly ate it all. Introductions were made to Abraham, Eugene, Rosita and Tara. The red-headed solider seemed a bit annoyed that the trek to save her had cost them time, but she instantly believed him to be a man of honor. Beth took to Tara and Rosita as well, determining them to both be strong and kind. Eugene she wasn't so sure about. He seemed nice enough, but a bit too talkative and maybe just a little off. She also swore she caught Daryl cast a steely glare in the scientist's direction after he had stared at Beth just a little too long upon meeting her. In fact, Daryl seemed to be monitoring a lot of her interactions closely. He hadn't said much to her, but she found his gaze upon her more than once since rejoining the group. She had thought it mostly to be concern, but then she remembered Carol's words from earlier that day and felt her cheeks grow hot. Could he really think of her that way?

She decided she would have plenty of time to figure that out, now that she was where she belonged. She picked up the clothes her sister had brought her and went to change. It felt good to be out of the road worn scrubs that she'd donned for the past several days. She took out her knife and gingerly cut the soft cast off her arm. It should have come off awhile ago, but she had been too preoccupied planning her escape to care. Beth tugged at the sleeve on the mint green sweater Maggie gave her and saw how it just covered her scar. She had come so far since that day on the farm. She smiled for the umpteenth time that day as she realized she was finally home.

The vehicles were packed and ready to go, and most of the others had turned in for the night. Beth and Maggie sat on a log beside the dwindling fire, still chatting. Glenn came over and kissed his wife on the head, "Bed in a few?"

"You go on ahead. I'll be there in a bit."

He nodded his understanding and gave Beth a squeeze on the shoulder before wandering off. "Walker blood love notes, how romantic..." she mused. Maggie had just finished telling her how she found Glenn after the prison fell.

"Oh hush. What about you and Daryl? You two seem to have gotten pretty close." The older Greene had a gleam in her eye and Beth knew she wasn't going to let it go without giving her a little info. She looked up quickly to see if the man in question was anywhere within earshot.

"I guess so. I mean, we were together for awhile. I think he let me see more of him than he's let anyone else see..."

Maggie raised an eyebrow.

"Not like that! Geez." Beth blushed and her sister just laughed. Then her face sobered.

"Bethy, you should've seen him. More serious about findin' you than anything. I don't know what happened when you were out there, but you're really important to him."

Beth took in a deep breath and said quietly, "He's important to me, too."

"Good." She paused as if that settled things, then added, "I know it's probably not what anyone expected, but I do think Daddy'd approve." Maggie gave her sister a quick peck on the cheek then left to join her husband.

Beth stared into the fire, contemplating on going to sleep herself, when Rick eased himself onto the log beside her. "I'm real glad you're back."

"Me too."

"I just wanted to thank you... for all you've done for Judith and Carl. You've always been there for them, and I appreciate that. You know, Lori loved you like a little sister."

Beth felt tears starting to well up behind her eyes and tried blinking them back. "Rick..."

"So do I. Way I see it, we're all family now. Ain't no difference between a Grimes or a Greene."

She used her sleeve to wipe at a tear that broken loose. "Thank you."

Rick patted her knee, then continued. "I almost didn't want to let Daryl go after you. Thought we'd already lost too much, didn't wanna lose more people. But he wasn't taking no for an answer. Neither was Maggie. So... I'm also here to apologize. I lost sight of what's important for a minute. It's funny, Daryl was the one that told me to have a little faith. Think you rubbed off on him more than you know."

Beth took in the weight of what he said. "I wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for him."

"I think he feels the same way about you. So I guess I owe you thanks for that, too. You know, you're a hell of a lot tougher than you look." He smiled at her then, teasing clearly in his tone.

"Been hearing that a lot lately. Don't you know you should never underestimate a Greene?" She teased back.

"Won't make the same mistake again. I suggest you get some sleep. We got a big day ahead tomorrow."

With that, he took his leave. Beth followed shortly after and nodded to Tyreese, who was taking first watch. She had hoped to catch Daryl, tell him goodnight, but he was nowhere to be seen. She supposed it was just as well; she needed time to contemplate what Maggie and Rick had both told her. It seemed everyone was guessing at Daryl's feelings for her. If things had changed between them, become something more, she wanted to hear it from the man himself.

"Shhh... it's okay." Beth balanced Judith against her side and brushed some errant hairs out of the little one's face, kissing her gently on the forehead. Her hair was getting so long. She softly began to sing as she wiped at the tears on Judith's plump little cheeks.

Daryl stood a few feet away watching the tender moment. He couldn't hear what Beth was singing, but he savored the soothing tone of her voice and thought she never looked so beautiful. He hadn't asked about her time at the hospital, but he didn't need to. It was evident the woman who stood before him now had seen darkness. She was no longer the naïve, scared farm girl he first met. The fact that she still had such light and vulnerability within her spoke volumes of Beth's capacity to love. He briefly thought of their accidental kiss the day before and felt a pang in his chest. Careful, Dixon. Though no one else was awake, he moved toward her lest his lingering gaze border on creepy.

"I see Li'l Asskicker missed you."

Beth turned and smiled at him, "Yeah, I think so... couldn't sleep, either?"

"Nah. Guess it must be all the excitement." He smirked a little. "That was nice, you getting up with her so Rick could sleep." Daryl noticed he hadn't been sleeping well lately. Hell, none of them had. Not since Terminus.

"Yeah, well, we got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Figured our fearless leader could use a solid eight. Besides, I missed this." Beth had been bouncing ever so slightly as she spoke and Judith was now fast asleep on her shoulder. "You really think there might be a cure?"

"Hell if I know. I ain't no scientist. Fact is, I'll go wherever Rick and the others wanna go." He paused, uncertain if he should say the rest of his thought. "But I sure as hell wasn't going nowhere without finding you first."

Beth looked up at him then. She could see his blue eyes in the moonlight and recognized the same piercing gaze that he had back at the funeral home, before they had been so rudely interrupted by that pack of walkers. Before she had been taken. Before everything changed. She swallowed hard and felt a flutter in her stomach. She made sure she had a firm grip on Judith and reached down with her other hand, finding his and intertwining their fingers. Her gaze ran up the length of his tan arm, seeing its definition outlined in the silver glow. She realized she had been holding her breath. "Thank you... for coming back for me."

"Was no other option." Daryl held her steady gaze, and Beth suddenly felt warmer despite the cool breeze blowing through. He squeezed her hand before releasing it. Then, bringing his hand back up, he brushed a few unruly strands of her blonde locks back, tucking them behind her ear.

Beth felt the heat from his touch, her eyes widening a little as she wondered what he might do next, but the hunter quickly cleared his throat and dropped his hand upon seeing her reaction, realizing the intimacy of his gesture.

"Like you said, big day tomorrow. Best try and get some shut eye."

Daryl stalked off and Beth nodded silently, her mouth suddenly having gone dry. For a moment there, she had almost thought he was going to kiss her. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed. Maybe a little of both. She didn't think she was imagining it anymore, though. The man definitely had feelings for her. She felt a fire slowly igniting in her belly and realized she felt the same way for him.

Beth wasn't sure when she had finally fallen asleep, but she knew it hadn't been enough. She had been awoken by the sound of yelling... and moaning. She'd know those moaning sounds anywhere. She heard what sounded like her sister scream and immediately sprang up and grabbed her knife. The sun wasn't quite up yet, but the pre-dawn was bathing the camp in an eery glow. Smoke still rose from the former fire in the center of the camp and mingled with the early morning fog, making visibility low.

Beth peered intently through the fog and could make out several people struggling. She realized there was a pack of walkers encroaching on the camp. Aware of the commotion all around her, Beth ran to the nearest scuffle. Tara was taking on three walkers at once. The dark haired woman narrowly avoided the rotting teeth of one undead female while plunging a knife into the skull of the plaid shirted corpse opposite her. Beth grabbed the hair of walker that had almost bit Tara and forced her blade up through the back of its head. Thick, black blood oozed out of the twice dead girl as she fell to the ground. Tara yanked her weapon back from the third's skull and shouted a quick "thanks!" to Beth before scurrying off in the other direction to help out Glenn and Maggie.

Beth gathered her wits and frantically ran back to where she had last seen Judith, wanting to make sure she was safe before doing anything else. She saw Carl in one of the loaded vehicles, a maroon SUV. He was clutching his sister close and keeping an eye on the action. Beth knew it must be killing him to not be helping out, but she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of both of them safe. Carl caught her gaze and yelled, "Behind you!"

She whipped around just in time to see a walker make for her neck. Beth quickly ducked out of the way and used her momentum to flip the corpse over onto its back. She then jammed her knife neatly in through the former man's eye socket as he lay gurgling on the ground.

"Beth!"

She looked up to see Daryl running towards her, crossbow at the ready. A nearby walker lunged at him as he ran but he fired a bolt into its head before it reached him and the body limply crumbled to the ground. He didn't bother to pluck it out, but kept coming full speed until he reached her side.

The fog was starting to lift and Beth could clearly see the tide turning. Time seemed to slow down as she felt Daryl checking her for bites or scratches. She saw Michonne cut down two walkers with her katana. Rick vanquished another pair with a large knife. Abraham and Rosita had successfully put down four together. Glenn and Maggie were embracing near a small pile of twice dead corpses. It looked like things were under control for the moment. She became acutely aware of Daryl's strong hands running up and down her arms, tracing her neck, cupping her face.

She looked him in the eye. "Daryl, I'm fine. None of it's mine." She referred to the dark blood splattered across her skin and body.

"You sure you're okay?" He was looking at her, but still surveying her body for any signs of injury. He ran a hand down the length of her arm again, just in case.

His frantic, searching hands were driving her nuts. Beth cleared her throat loudly and forcefully said, "Daryl!"

He abruptly stopped and looked into her eyes, really seeing her, acknowdledging that she was fully intact. The sensations he'd been trying to push down came rushing back to the surface and he felt his heartbeat accelerate. He'd been so scared of losing her again.

Beth felt some trepidation, but she held his gaze, seeing the longing there. She placed a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart. Her pulse rose to match his, but she was more scared of his retreat if she didn't say something soon. "Just kiss me already," she breathed.

The shock registered on his face. He wasn't sure if she thought of him that way, wondered if he had scared her off last night; but the way she looked at him right now, he could tell she wasn't playing. She wound a careful hand behind his neck as she rose up on her tip toes, stopping just short of his face. She wasn't going to make this easy. He'd have to come the rest of the way.

Adrenaline surging, Daryl slowly brought his hand to her face and traced her jaw with his thumb before nestling his fingers in her blonde hair. He was terrified in this moment, but she hadn't phrased it as a question. He didn't feel much like arguing, anyway. He brought his lips down to hers cautiously, like she might break under his touch. Beth leaned up into the kiss, the firm pressure from her soft lips telling him everything he needed to know. He broke away shortly after, not wanting to lose control in the moment. He tentatively opened his eyes to search her face. She was positively radiant, lit up in her special Beth Greene way. Shit. If he wasn't sure before, he knew it now. He was a goner.

She sighed and hugged him close, whispering, "There. Was that so hard?"

A grin crept across his features as he muttered, "Kinda, yeah..." He was only partially joking.

They both turned to see the rest of the group watching. Beth giggled when she saw her sister give her a thumbs up. No one looked particularly surprised... or upset. Most of them smiled, then went about cleaning themselves up. A good sign.

Rick came over and put his hand on Daryl's shoulder, showing his support. He smiled at his brother and took Judith from Carl, who had exited the SUV once the coast was clear. "Well, that put us slightly behind schedule. Beth, I had you in the car with us, but I'm guessing you'll want to be with Daryl now..." He stated this matter of factly, but quickly winked as he said it.

Beth looked up at her hunter, and thought she saw him flush ever so slightly. She weaved her fingers into his and answered so only he could hear, "Always."